Panneerselvam, Jayalalithaa’s chosen man and former Tamil Nadu CM, joins arch-rival DMK
Mangalore Today News Network
Chennai, Feb 27, 2026: Veteran leader O Panneerselvam, a three-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who was twice handpicked by the late J Jayalalithaa to step in during her legal battles, joined the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin.
The 75-year-old leader’s move comes after his attempts to rejoin the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), reportedly with the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), failed. While the AIADMK agreed to his induction into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), it declined to re-admit him into the party.
Though the DMK may benefit symbolically by inducting a long-time AIADMK loyalist ahead of the Assembly elections, it also faces criticism for welcoming leaders from rival parties. Politically, however, Panneerselvam’s impact is expected to be limited, as his influence largely remains confined to his home district of Theni, with some support among sections of the Mukulathor community.
Expelled from the AIADMK in 2022 by his former protégé Edappadi K Palaniswami, Panneerselvam turned to the courts in a protracted leadership battle. The split saw several of his supporters shift allegiance to the DMK, while others withdrew from active politics.
Popularly known as OPS, Panneerselvam spent over five decades opposing the DMK. Between 2001 and 2016, as Chief Minister and Finance Minister, he was one of its fiercest critics in the Assembly. However, his stance appeared to soften after Jayalalithaa’s death, notably when his public praise of former DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi drew attention.
Despite becoming Chief Minister three times — largely under extraordinary circumstances — and ranking next only to Jayalalithaa in the AIADMK hierarchy at one point, his political journey has been marked by turbulence.
His rebellion in February 2017 against V K Sasikala, Jayalalithaa’s close aide, is widely seen as the turning point in his career. After Sasikala’s conviction in a disproportionate assets case barred her from assuming office, she appointed Palaniswami as legislature party leader. Panneerselvam, who had briefly positioned himself as a challenger, eventually agreed to serve as Deputy Chief Minister under Palaniswami in August 2017, publicly crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating the compromise.
Over time, Palaniswami consolidated his authority within the AIADMK — first as Chief Minister, later as the party’s chief ministerial face in the 2021 Assembly elections, and ultimately as its undisputed leader. In contrast, Panneerselvam struggled to assert his influence or rally sustained support within the party.
After his expulsion, he refrained from launching a new political outfit. Instead, he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent from Ramanathapuram. He exited the NDA in 2025 and was reportedly considering joining actor Vijay’s party before ultimately aligning with the DMK.
Panneerselvam’s career has often been described as marked by indecision and abrupt shifts. While he publicly accused Sasikala of sidelining him, he was also reported to have maintained communication with her family, fuelling distrust within the AIADMK. His rare show of assertiveness — demanding one of the party’s Rajya Sabha seats during the dual leadership arrangement — is believed to have hastened his political isolation.
He was reportedly caught off guard on June 14, 2022, when Palaniswami’s supporters formally raised the leadership issue at a party meeting, effectively sealing his ouster from the AIADMK.
Chennai, Feb 27, 2026: Veteran leader O Panneerselvam, a three-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who was twice handpicked by the late J Jayalalithaa to step in during her legal battles, joined the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin.
The 75-year-old leader’s move comes after his attempts to rejoin the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), reportedly with the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), failed. While the AIADMK agreed to his induction into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), it declined to re-admit him into the party.
Though the DMK may benefit symbolically by inducting a long-time AIADMK loyalist ahead of the Assembly elections, it also faces criticism for welcoming leaders from rival parties. Politically, however, Panneerselvam’s impact is expected to be limited, as his influence largely remains confined to his home district of Theni, with some support among sections of the Mukulathor community.
Expelled from the AIADMK in 2022 by his former protégé Edappadi K Palaniswami, Panneerselvam turned to the courts in a protracted leadership battle. The split saw several of his supporters shift allegiance to the DMK, while others withdrew from active politics.
Popularly known as OPS, Panneerselvam spent over five decades opposing the DMK. Between 2001 and 2016, as Chief Minister and Finance Minister, he was one of its fiercest critics in the Assembly. However, his stance appeared to soften after Jayalalithaa’s death, notably when his public praise of former DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi drew attention.
Despite becoming Chief Minister three times — largely under extraordinary circumstances — and ranking next only to Jayalalithaa in the AIADMK hierarchy at one point, his political journey has been marked by turbulence.
His rebellion in February 2017 against V K Sasikala, Jayalalithaa’s close aide, is widely seen as the turning point in his career. After Sasikala’s conviction in a disproportionate assets case barred her from assuming office, she appointed Palaniswami as legislature party leader. Panneerselvam, who had briefly positioned himself as a challenger, eventually agreed to serve as Deputy Chief Minister under Palaniswami in August 2017, publicly crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating the compromise.
Over time, Palaniswami consolidated his authority within the AIADMK — first as Chief Minister, later as the party’s chief ministerial face in the 2021 Assembly elections, and ultimately as its undisputed leader. In contrast, Panneerselvam struggled to assert his influence or rally sustained support within the party.
After his expulsion, he refrained from launching a new political outfit. Instead, he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent from Ramanathapuram. He exited the NDA in 2025 and was reportedly considering joining actor Vijay’s party before ultimately aligning with the DMK.
Panneerselvam’s career has often been described as marked by indecision and abrupt shifts. While he publicly accused Sasikala of sidelining him, he was also reported to have maintained communication with her family, fuelling distrust within the AIADMK. His rare show of assertiveness — demanding one of the party’s Rajya Sabha seats during the dual leadership arrangement — is believed to have hastened his political isolation.
He was reportedly caught off guard on June 14, 2022, when Palaniswami’s supporters formally raised the leadership issue at a party meeting, effectively sealing his ouster from the AIADMK.